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RS Aero European Championship at Fraglia Vela Malcesine - Overall

Wow - What a week! 106 RS Aeros from 19 countries enjoyed a week of excellent racing and camaraderie at Malcesine on Lake Garda. Following a coaching session ashore and a practice race over the first weekend a full schedule of 12 races over five days was held with a variety of conditions mixing both afternoon and early morning starts to provide a challenging variety to the racing.

Off the water a busy social programme kept the fleet entertained with regatta dinners, restaurant bookings, pasta parties and the customary daily awards ceremonies after racing with the daily winners from each fleet generously offering their Top-Tips. Frequent dips in the lake off the shore from FVM were a necessity to keep cool under the baking Italian sun!

A large fleet of twenty charter RS Aeros provided by RS Sailing allowed distant competitors to fly in to compete together with a few future owners.

The RS Aero 5 fleet was filled with youths and small adults and the females outnumbering the men at this event! Medallists from the last two world championships competed and racing was intense. However, it was the young new RS Aero owner, Attila Banyai (HUN) who took the overall win and top youth title too, dominating the series after some keen training since collecting his new RS Aero in July. Past world champion, Andrew Frost (GBR), took second with last year's worlds silver medallist Liina Kolk (EST) in third and top female, just pipping Sammy Isaacs-Johnson (GBR) on a tie break after his last day comeback. First youth female title went to Caitlin Atkin (GBR) from Lily Barrett (GBR) and Yana Skvortsova (GBR)

RS Aero 7

The RS Aero 7s were the largest fleet with 63 boats competing. Craig Williamson (GBR) took an early lead in the series with Paul McMahon (IRE) challenging hard with some excellent downwind pace. The young sailors excelled with Noah Rees (GBR) winning day two with a 1,3 and Tim Hire (GBR) fastest sailor on day 3 with a (2,2,1). On the final day the podium places were still wide open. The last two races started early at 08:30 in the strong northerly Peler mountain breeze and good waves as the fleet launched, slowly softening through the morning. As places changed throughout the last race the overall lead for the title changed several times, providing a cliff hanger finale, decided only boat lengths from the finish line!

Ultimately, only one point spilt the podium places with Jack Hopkins (GBR) taking third having taken five wins in the series. Craig Williamson (GBR) finished second loosing out on a tie break to Peter Barton (GBR) in first. Juliane Barthel (GER) finished first female from Eleanor Craig (GBR), Chris Jones (GBR) finished first master from Ian McGonigal (GBR) of Scotland and Tim Hire (GBR) was top youth in sixth.

In the RS Aero 9 revelled in Garda's good breezes and Greg Bartlett (GBR) dominated the series counting a string of first places, demonstrating the rewards of an enthusiastic training plan over the past year. Liam Willis (GBR) won the final day with a 1,1 to take second with Chris Larr (GBR) rounding off the podium in third. First master was Tomas Sandstrom (SWE).

Thanks to the support from Rooster, Selden, RS Sailing and RS Sailing Italia. The fantastic spread of prizes allowed for daily awards spread through the fleet together with a wonderful final prize giving. Fraglia Vela Malcesine were the perfect hosts and we look forward to returning again in the future!